When I chanced upon a Rabbi at our crematorium recently I said I'd never been inside a synagogue. He immediately invited me to the Cardiff Reform Synagogue and I took up the offer just before the 2019 Passover. I arrived at ten on the Sabbath when it all seemed to be locked up, but having put £4 in the parking meter, I was reluctant to go away so I rang an obscure bell. The door was answered by the caretaker who said the morning service started at eleven, but invited me in while she set up. She showed me round until others began to arrive at 10.15 a.m.

 

When the Rabbi arrived five people followed her into a backroom where I joined them and we had 40 minutes of discussion, debate and education. She revealed the meaning of every phrase of the verses of the Bible passage these people were studying. I was amazed at their deep thinking and explanation of how those words should affect our lives and actions. Quite intense in a gentle and thorough way.

 

We were led back into the main body of the synagogue with five minutes to spare, so I spoke to the organist. They have a decent Allen digital organ and he had been playing there for 63 years, even though he had been brought up as an evangelical Christian. The service required what seemed to me complex accompaniment, nothing at all like Catholic, Anglican or free-church worship as I know it. Indeed much was sung or intoned by the Rabbi and followed by the congregation without organ, which only came in for the greater moments.

 

The service took 1¾ hours, rather than longer than usual because a boy of 13 had just completed his Bar Mitzvah which is the initiation ceremony of a Jewish boy. He was now regarded as ready to observe religious precepts and became eligible to take part in public worship.

 

We finally moved to the foyer where we shared wine, food and conversation. I experienced a most warm welcome and left with the feeling that their faith is deeply rooted in their daily lives. I returned the Kippa head covering they had lent me and left after three hours. A most memorable morning.